A growing list of elected officials Tuesday came out against NYCHA’s plan to build high-end housing on public land, with U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney talking about filing legislation that would stop it.
Two weeks ago, NYCHA picked a developer to build a 47-story tower on what is now a NYCHA playground at Holmes Towers on the Upper East Side.
The tower, to be built by a big de Blasio donor, would be 50% market-rate, 50% “affordable” apartments jammed between two 25-story NYCHA buildings. NYCHA will collect a $25 million up-front fee and lease the land to the developer for 99 years. The developer will pocket all rent and manage the building.
Rep. Maloney (D-Manhattan) joined other local officials and Holmes Towers tenants on Tuesday to protest the plan.
The congresswoman said she’s looking at drafting a bill that would require all housing built on public housing authority land to be 100% affordable.
Tenants say the huge tower will cut off their light, and noted that income limits set for the “affordable” apartments are far above what the average NYCHA tenant makes.
“Not only does this deal not help residents of Holmes, it will actually hurt them,” Maloney said. “Parks and playground are vital to public health and civil society, and it is short-sighted to lease them to developers for a pittance that doesn’t even come close to addressing the financial hole.”
